The announcement by the Dalai Lama that he will have a reincarnated successor when he dies – and that his foundation along will identify the next leader of Tibetan Buddhism – is a major challenge to China, which occupies Tibet. It’s also a challenge to the Trump administration, according to a former official. Randall Schriver served as Assistant Secretary of Defence. He says respecting the Dalai Lama’s decision will test Donald Trump’s commitment to religious freedom.

Across Europe, governments are cracking down on clergy associated with the Russian Orthodox Church, accusing them of being propagandists, even spies for the Putin regime. Ukraine has stripped citizenship from the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, saying he answers to Moscow. Estonia has just passed a law forcing the local Orthodox to cut ties with Russia. It’s also accused a group of nuns of spying. Just how deep does suspicion of the church run?

He was the charismatic preacher in the sharp suit and flashy car, who preached personal purity – until he came undone in a sex scandal. Jimmy Swaggart was a global institution in the 1980s. He died a few days ago.

GUESTS:

• RANDALL SCHRIVER served as Assistant Secretary of Defence in the Trump administration and Deputy Secretary of State in the Bush administration. He's currently the Chairman of the Institute for Indo Pacific Security in Washington DC. And co-authored China wants to pick the next Dalai Lama. Will democracies let it?
• ANDREW RETTMAN is a senior correspondent for the EU Observer. He’s written extensively about espionage and the Russian Orthodox Church.
• Dr LEAH PAYNE is a historian of charismatic Christianity at George Fox University and author of the book about Jimmy Swaggart God Gave Rock & Roll to You.

This program was made on the land of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation